Yet his love was rooted in the strength of the Holy Spirit because John was the only one of the Twelve who did not forsake Jesus during His crucifixion

Mary Magdalene, the Blessed Mother, and John in The Passion of the Christ

John stood at the foot of the cross and was appointed the guardian of Mary and was the first apostle to reach the empty tomb on Easter morning.

Mathias Grünewald, Crucifixion, Isenheim Altarpiece, c.1512/15

The Crucifixion with the Virgin, Mary Magdalene and St. John the Evangelist, ca 1400. Artist: Andrea di Bartolo (bef. 1389-1428)

He is also St. John the Evangelist and Saint Paul affirms in Galatians 2:9 that John, along with Peter and James, were “these pillars” of the Church.

He has almost always been depicted with an eagle to signify the soaring of his writings, which were so brilliant theologically that some came to call him “John the Divine.” He is the author of three New Testament books.

In the Gospel according to Saint John: “In the beginning was the Word. . . . ”

I love the more mystical Gospel of John because of its depth and power to touch my inner spirit.

I

The Limbourgs is illustrated with a miniature showing John on Patmos, the island where he was exiled by the Emperor Domitian, and where he received the revelation recorded in the Apocalypse.
The boat which has brought the apostle pulls away. John is young and beardless; beside him stands his symbol, an eagle, with spread wings and a portable inkstand in his beak.
Three trumpets ring in John’s ears, symbolizing the verse from the Apocalypse: “I… heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet…” (Apocalypse I: 10)
In the clouds above appears the vision:”I saw … one like to the Son of man….” (Apocalypse I: 13) On the Lord’s knees are the Lamb and the scroll with seven seals mentioned later in the Apocalypse; seated around His throne are twenty-four elders in white robes and golden crowns.

In his old age he was carried into the assembly of the Church at Ephesus, and his only exhortation was,

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Published by melanie jean juneau

Melanie Jean Juneau serves as the Editor in Chief of Catholic Stand. She is a mother of nine children who has edited her kid's university term papers for over a decade. She blogs at joy of nine9 and mother of nine9. Her writing is humorous and heart warming; thoughtful and thought-provoking. Part of her call and her witness is to write the truth about children, family, marriage and the sacredness of life. Melanie is the administrator of ACWB, a columnist at CatholicLane, CatholicStand, Catholic365 , CAPC, author of Echoes of the Divine and Oopsy Daisy, and coauthor of Love Rebel: Reclaiming Motherhood.
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